Course overview
The course “UMTS Core Network Planning” addresses the planning and design principles of the UMTS core network systems and related transmission networks. The core network architecture concerned is based on the split architecture mainly, taking into account dimensioning criteria for control layer and connectivity layer systems. Both core network domains (i.e. Circuit and Packet Services domains) are addressed in this course.
Traffic and signalling parts of the core network are dealt with in terms of functionality, protocols and traffic volumes. The processing requirements on core network systems is also addressed, by describing different processor load types and proposing methods for calculating expected processing capacity.
Let your staff learn from the experts that have already seen and solved the problems your staff is facing today.

Content
-Signalling and traffic interfaces in a split architecture core network
-Overview of the ATM, IP/MPLS and SDH principles
-The role of ATM, IP and SDH in the UMTS network
-The signalling networks inside the core networks
-Input data collection and evaluation
-Traffic models for circuit switched and packet switched services
-Overhead data calculation using standard assumptions
-Calculating traffic and signalling volumes from input data
-Calculating processor load from resulted traffic and signalling volumes
-Capacity needs on the transmission network
-Load sharing and redundancy criteria in the core network
-Evaluating performance and evolving the design of the core network
-Future development of the core network (3GPP release 6 and above)

Learning objectives
-After the course, the participants should be able to:
-Explain the network architecture for 2G & 3G systems
-Briefly describe the interfaces and protocols in the radio access networks of 2G & 3G systems
-Explain the important traffic cases for 2G & 3G systems
-Describe the basic structure of SDH networks
-Explain the basic structure of ATM networks
-Explain alternative network solutions for the CS and PS part of the Core Network
-Outline the basics of IP routing and the role of MPLS
-Describe Network Planning process
-Specify necessary input data for the planning process
-Calculate traffic volume based on given input data
-Calculate the data overhead for different services
-Describe the traffic models used for capacity calculations
-Explain the No.7 signalling network architecture for the core network
-Calculate the signalling volumes and estimate the signalling links required
-Explain the load sharing principles and built-in redundancy in core network
-Describe processor load types and explain their impact on processor dimensioning
-Calculate the processor capacity based on given traffic load
-Dimension a simple GPRS network
-Outline the structure of the IN network and impact on the planning process

Who should attend this course?
The course targets operator and supplier staff, in charge of technical planning and operation of 2nd and 3rd generation mobile networks and who need a broad understanding on the planning and dimensioning rules for the core network systems and related transmission network.

Pre-requisites
The participants should have good working knowledge of telecommunication systems.